Tteokbokki, a beloved Korean street food, is a mouthwatering dish that combines chewy rice cakes with a spicy and savoury sauce. This popular comfort food is easy to make at home and is perfect for satisfying your cravings for something hearty and flavorful. Here's a step-by-step guide to creating this delectable dish along with some tips, variations, and nutritional information.
Ingredients:
- 200g of cylindrical rice cakes (tteok)
- 2 cups of water
- 2 tablespoons of Korean red pepper paste (gochujang)
- 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon of sugar
- 1 clove of garlic, minced
- 1/2 onion, thinly sliced
- 2-3 green onions, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1/2 cup of sliced cabbage (optional)
- 1 boiled egg (optional)
- 1 tablespoon of sesame oil
- Toasted sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions:
- Soak the rice cakes in warm water for about 15-20 minutes to soften them.
- In a large skillet or wok, combine water, red pepper paste, soy sauce, sugar, and minced garlic. Stir well to mix the ingredients.
- Bring the sauce to a simmer over medium heat.
- Add the soaked rice cakes, sliced onions, and cabbage (if using) to the simmering sauce. Cook for about 5-7 minutes or until the rice cakes are tender and the sauce has thickened, stirring occasionally.
- Once the rice cakes are cooked through, add the green onions and boiled egg (if using). Stir gently to incorporate.
- Drizzle sesame oil over the top and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds for added flavour.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Tips:
- Adjust the level of spiciness by adding more or less red pepper paste according to your preference.
- For a richer flavour, you can add seafood such as shrimp or fish cakes.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can mix in a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons of water) towards the end of cooking.
- Tteokbokki is traditionally served as a street food snack, but you can also enjoy it as a main dish alongside steamed rice or as a side dish to complement other Korean dishes.
Variations:
- Cheese Tteokbokki: Add mozzarella cheese or cheese slices to the dish during the last few minutes of cooking for a gooey and indulgent twist.
- Ramen Tteokbokki: Incorporate instant ramen noodles into the dish along with the rice cakes for a satisfying and filling meal.
- Seafood Tteokbokki: Enhance the dish with an assortment of seafood such as shrimp, squid, or mussels for a delicious seafood medley.
Nutritional Information:
- The calorie content of Tteokbokki can vary depending on the ingredients used and the portion size. On average, a serving of Tteokbokki contains approximately 250-300 calories.
